Nationalism in India PYQs

 Previous Year Questions 2026

Q1. Arrange the following in chronological order and choose the correct option : [1 Mark]
I. Gandhi-Irwin Pact
II. Rowlatt Act
III. Poona Pact
IV. Khilafat Movement
Options:
(A) I, III, IV and II
(B) II, IV, III and I
(C) II, IV, I and III
(D) I, III, II and IV

Solution:

​Answer: (C) II, IV, I and III

Q2. Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched ? [1 Mark]

Solution:

Answer: (C) Bal Gangadhar Tilak - Kesari

Q8. Match Column I with Column II and choose the correct option:  [Marks: 1]

Options:
(A) a-iv, b-iii, c-ii, d-i
(B) a-iv, b-iii, c-i, d-ii
(C) a-iii, b-iv, c-ii, d-i
(D) a-iii, b-ii, c-iv, d-i

Solution:

Ans: (B) a-iv, b-iii, c-i, d-ii

Q3. Between which two leaders was the Poona Pact signed in 1932 ? [1 Mark]
(A) Bhimrao Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi
(B) Bhimrao Ambedkar and Jawaharlal Nehru
(C) Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin
(D) Mahatma Gandhi and M.A. Jinnah

Solution:

Answer: (A) Bhimrao Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi

Q11. Arrange the following events in chronological order and choose the correct option : [1 Mark]
I. Second Round Table Conference
II. Formation of Depressed Class Association
III. Lahore Session of Indian National Congress
IV. Formation of Awadh Kissan Sabha
Options :
(A) I, II, IV, III
(B) I, II, III, IV
(C) IV, III, II, I
(D) IV, III, I, II

Solution:

​Answer: (C) IV, III, II, I

Q16. Two places 'A' and 'B' have been marked on the given political outline map of India. Identify them with the help of the following informations and write their correct names on the lines drawn near them. [1+1=2 Marks]

(a) The place where Gandhiji launched satyagraha, for the Indigo planters. [1 Mark]
(b) The place where the session of Indian National Congress was held. [1 Mark]

Solution:

Ans:
(a) Champaran
(b) Nagpur

Q10. Two places 'A' and 'B' have been marked on the given political outline map of India. Identify them with the help of the following information and write their correct names on the lines drawn near them:  [Marks: 1+1=2]

A. The place where the session of Indian National Congress was held in 1927.
B. The place where Gandhiji broke the Salt Law.

Solution:

Ans: A = Madras / Chennai
B = Dandi

Q7. Two places 'A' and 'B' have been marked on the given political outline map of India (page 27). Identify them with the help of the following information and write their correct names on the lines drawn near them : [2 Marks]

A. The place where the session of the Indian National Congress was held in September 1920. [1 Mark]
B. The place where Mahatma Gandhi led the Peasant Movement against Indigo Cultivation. [1 Mark]

Solution:

Ans: A. Calcutta / Kolkata
B. Champaran

Q16. Two places 'A' and 'B' have been marked on the given political outline map of India. Identify them with the help of the following informations and write their correct names on the lines drawn near them. [1+1=2 Marks]

(a) The place where Gandhiji launched satyagraha, for the Indigo planters. [1 Mark]
(b) The place where the session of Indian National Congress was held. [1 Mark]

Solution:

Ans:
(a) Champaran
(b) Nagpur

Q4. Two places (A) and (B) have been marked on the given political outline map of India. Identify them based on the information given below and write their correct names on the lines marked on the map near them : [2 Marks]​(A) The place where General Dyer ordered firing upon a peaceful gathering on 13 April, 1919. [1 Mark]
(B) The place where the Session of Indian National Congress was held in the year 1927. [1 Mark]

Solution:

Ans: (A) Jallianwala Bagh / Amritsar
(B) Madras / Chennai

Q4. Read the given source carefully and answer the questions that follow : [4 Marks]
'To the altar of this revolution we have brought our youth as incense'
Many nationalists thought that the struggle against the British could not be won through non-violence. In the year 1928, the Hindustan Socialist Republican Army (HSRA) was founded at a meeting in Ferozeshah Kotla ground in Delhi. Amongst its leaders were Bhagat Singh, Jatin Das and Ajoy Ghosh. In a series of dramatic actions in different parts of India, the HSRA targeted some of the symbols of British power. In April 1929, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutta threw a bomb in the Legislative Assembly. In the same year there was an attempt to blow up the train that Lord Irwin was travelling in. Bhagat Singh was 23 when he was tried and executed by the colonial government. During his trial, Bhagat Singh stated that he did not wish to glorify 'the cult of the bomb and pistol' but wanted a revolution in society -
'Revolution is the inalienable right of mankind. Freedom is the imprescriptible birthright of all. The labourer is the real sustainer of society. To the altar of this revolution we have brought your youth as incense, for no sacrifice is too great for so magnificent a cause. We are content. We await the advent of revolution. Inquilab Zindabad!'

(a) Why is the formation of 'Hindustan Socialist Republican Army (HSRA)' considered as a turning point in the freedom struggle of India ? [1 Mark]

Solution:

​Answer:
(i) Many nationalists thought that the struggle against the British could not be won through non-violence.
(ii) It led to the rise of new leadership of young revolutionaries.
(iii) It helped to spread of nationalist spirit.
(iv) It fuelled national sentiments and gave rise to patriotic fervour.
(Any one point to be explained)

(b) How did Bhagat Singh's trial speeches transform him from a revolutionary to a philosopher of freedom ? [1 Mark]

Solution:

​Answer:
(i) Bhagat Singh stated that he did not wish to glorify 'the cult of the bomb and pistol' but wanted a revolution.
(ii) Bhagat Singh's broader vision of team formation (Socio-Pol-Cultural) brought revolution in the society.
(iii) He wanted radical changes in society.
(iv) He glorified nationalism against colonial power.
(v) His speeches discussed the ideas of freedom, justice and social equality, expressing philosophical ideas linked to freedom.
(Any one point to be explained)

(c)  In what way did Bhagat Singh redefine the meaning of 'revolution' for his generation ? Explain. [2 Marks]

Solution:

​Answer:
(i) He considered revolution as the inalienable right of humans.
(ii) He considered freedom as the imprescriptible birth right of all.
(iii) He wanted youth to sacrifice for the cause of nation's freedom.
(iv) He wanted the advent of revolution.
(v) Inquilab Zindabad! slogan was used for raising the spirit of Indians for freedom.
(Any two points to be explained)

Q9. Read the given source carefully and answer the questions that follow: [4 Marks]
Quit India Movement
The failure of the Cripps Mission and the effects of World War II created widespread discontentment in India. This led Gandhiji to launch a movement calling for complete withdrawal of the British from India. The Congress Working Committee, in its meeting in Wardha on 14 July, 1942, passed the historic 'Quit India' resolution demanding the immediate transfer of power to Indians and quit India. On 8 August, 1942 in Bombay, the All India Congress Committee endorsed the resolution, which called for a non-violent mass struggle on the widest possible scale throughout the country. It was on this occasion that Gandhiji delivered the famous 'Do or Die' speech. The call for 'Quit India' almost brought the state machinery to a standstill in large parts of the country as people voluntarily threw themselves into the thick of the movement. People observed hartals and demonstrations and processions were accompanied by national songs and slogans. The movement was truly a mass movement which brought into its ambit thousands of ordinary people, namely students, workers and peasants. It also saw the active participation of leaders, namely, Jayprakash Narayan, Aruna Asaf Ali and Ram Manohar Lohia and many women such as Matangini Hazra in Bengal, Kanaklata Barua in Assam and Rama Devi in Odisha. The British responded with much force, yet it took more than a year to suppress the movement.

(a) Mention the main aim of the Quit India Movement. [Marks: 1]

Solution:

Ans: Independence of India.

(b) Where did Gandhiji deliver the famous 'Do or Die' speech? [Marks: 1]

Solution:

Ans: Bombay / Mumbai.

(c) Explain the forms of protest observed during the 'Quit India Movement'. [Marks: 2]

Solution:

Ans:
(i) People voluntarily threw themselves into the thick of the movement.
(ii) People observed hartals and demonstrations.
(iii) Processions were accompanied by national songs and slogans.
(Any two points to be explained)

Solution:

Q12. Read the given source carefully and answer the questions that follow : [4 Marks]
Quit India Movement
The failure of the Cripps Mission and the effects of World War II created widespread discontentment in India. This led Gandhiji to launch a movement calling for complete withdrawal of the British from India. The Congress Working Committee, in its meeting in Wardha on 14 July 1942, passed the historic 'Quit India' resolution demanding the immediate transfer of power to Indians and quit India. On 8th August 1942 in Bombay, the All India Congress Committee endorsed the resolution which called for a non-violent mass struggle on the widest possible scale throughout the country. It was on this occasion that Gandhiji delivered the famous 'Do or Die' speech. The call for 'Quit India' almost brought the state machinery to a standstill in large parts of the country as people voluntarily threw themselves into the thick of the movement. People observed hartals, and demonstrations and processions were accompanied by national songs and slogans. The movement was truly a mass movement which brought into its ambit thousands of ordinary people, namely students, workers and peasants. It also saw the active participation of leaders, namely, Jayprakash Narayan, Aruna Asaf Ali and Ram Manohar Lohia and many women such as Matangini Hazra in Bengal, Kanaklata Barua in Assam and Rama Devi in Orissa. The British responded with much force, yet it took more than a year to suppress the movement.

(a) How did the failure of the Cripps Mission contribute to the launch of the Quit India Movement ? [1 Mark]

Solution:

​Ans: The failure of the Cripps Mission created widespread discontentment in India. This led Gandhiji to launch Quit India movement calling for complete withdrawal of the British from India.

(b) Why was Gandhiji's call for 'the Quit India' considered historic ? [1 Mark]

Solution:

​Ans:
(i) The Congress Working Committee, in its meeting in Wardha on 14 July 1942, passed the historic 'Quit India' resolution demanding the immediate transfer of power to Indians and quit India.
(ii) On 8th August 1942 in Bombay, the All India Congress Committee endorsed the resolution which called for a non-violent mass struggle on the widest possible scale throughout the country. It was on this occasion that Gandhiji delivered the famous 'Do or Die' speech.
(iii) The call for 'Quit India' almost brought the state machinery to a standstill in large parts of the country as people voluntarily threw themselves into the thick of the movement.
​​​(Any one point to be explained)

(c) Explain the role of women in making the Quit India Movement more inclusive. [2 Marks]

Solution:

​Ans:
(i) The Quit India movement saw the active participation of many women leaders like Aruna Asaf Ali and Matangini Hazra in Bengal, Kanaklata Barua in Assam and Rama Devi in Orissa.
(ii) They participated in large numbers in hartals, and demonstrations and processions accompanied by national songs and slogans.

Q13. Two places 'A' and 'B' have been marked on the given political outline map of India. Identify them with the help of the following information and write their correct names on the lines drawn near them : [2 Marks]
(a) The place where Gandhiji broke the Salt Law. [1 Mark]
(b) The place where the session of Indian National Congress was held. [1 Mark]

Solution:

Ans:
(a) Dandi
(b) Kolkata (Calcutta)

(a) Name the place where Gandhiji broke the Salt Law. [1 Mark]

Solution:

​Ans: Dandi

(b) Name the place where the session of Indian National Congress was held in 1920 in Eastern India. [1 Mark]

Solution:

​Ans: Calcutta (Kolkata)

Q14. Arrange the following events in chronological order and choose the correct option : [1 Mark]
I. Salt Satyagraha
II. Kheda Satyagraha
III. Rowlatt Satyagraha
IV. Ahmedabad Mill Workers Satyagraha
Options :
(A) II, I, III, IV
(B) II, IV, III, I
(C) III, II, IV, I
(D) II, I, IV, III

Solution:

​Ans: (B) II, IV, III, I

Q15. Read the given source carefully and answer the questions that follow :
The sense of collective belonging
As the national movement developed, nationalist leaders became more and more aware of such icons and symbols in unifying people and inspiring in them a feeling of nationalism. Another means of creating a feeling of nationalism was through reinterpretation of history. By the end of the nineteenth century many Indians began feeling that to instill a sense of pride in the nation, Indian history had to be thought about differently. The British saw Indians as backward and primitive, incapable of governing themselves. In response, Indians began looking into the past to discover India's great achievements. They wrote about the glorious developments in ancient times when art and architecture, science and mathematics, religion and culture, law and philosophy, crafts and trade had flourished. This glorious time, in their view, was followed by a history of decline, when India was colonised. These nationalist histories urged the readers to take pride in India's great achievements in the past and struggle to change the miserable conditions of life under British rule.

(a) How did icons help to unite Indians during the freedom struggle ? [1 Mark]

Solution:

​Ans:
(i) Devotion to an icon like Bharat Mata came to be seen as evidence of one's nationalism in India.
(ii) Folk tradition in the form of songs, music and rhymes were encouraged in order to discover one's national identity and restore a sense of pride in one's past.
(iii) In carrying the national flag, holding it aloft, during marches became a symbol of defiance.

[Any one point to be explained.]

(b) Why did nationalists feel the need to rewrite Indian history ? [1 Mark]

Solution:

Ans:
(i) The British through their writings saw Indians as backward and primitive, incapable of governing themselves. In response, Indians began looking into the past to discover India's great achievements.
(ii) These nationalist histories urged the readers to take pride in India's great achievements in the past and struggle to change the miserable conditions of life under British rule.

[Any one point to be explained.]

(c) How did nationalist histories portray India's past and present ? [2 Marks]

Solution:

​Ans:
(i) Nationalist historians wrote about the glorious developments in ancient times when art and architecture, science and mathematics, religion and culture, law and philosophy, crafts and trade had flourished.
(ii) This glorious time, in their view, was followed by a history of decline, when India was colonised.
(iii) These nationalist histories urged the readers to take pride in India's great achievements in the past and struggle to change the miserable conditions of life under British rule.

[Any two points to be explained.]

Q6. (a) "Women played an important role during the Civil Disobedience Movement." Support the statement with appropriate arguments. [5 Marks]

Solution:

​Answer (a):
(i) During Gandhiji's Salt March, thousands of women came out of their homes.
(ii) They participated in protest marches.
(iii) They manufactured salt.
(iv) They boycotted foreign cloth.
(v) They picketed liquor shops.
(vi) Many women went to jail.
(vii) They began to see service to the nation as a sacred duty of women.
(Any five points to be explained)

Q6. (b) "The revival of Indian folklore strengthened nationalism in India." Support the statement with appropriate arguments. [5 Marks]

Solution:

​Answer (b):
(i) The revival of Indian folklore was important to resist British cultural domination and assert the uniqueness of Indian tradition.
(ii) Folklore played an important part in the making of nationalism.
(iii) Nationalists began recording folk tales sung by bards.
(iv) They toured villages to gather folk song and legends.
(v) They believed these tales gave a true picture of traditional culture.
(vi) It was essential to preserve this folk tradition in order to discover one's national identity.
(vii) It helped to restore a sense of pride in one's past.
(viii) Rabindranath Tagore led the movement of folk revival in Bengal.
(ix) He collected ballads, nursery rhymes and myths emphasising the importance of local culture in building national identity.
(x) In Madras, Natesa Sastri published a four-volume collection of Tamil folk tales, "The Folklore of Southern India."
(xi) The folklore is considered national literature.
(xii) It is the most trustworthy manifestation of people's real thoughts and characteristics.
(Any five points to be explained)

Previous Year Questions 2025

Q1: Explain the role of anti-colonial movement in the rise of 'modern nationalism' in India.  (2 Marks)

Solution:

Ans: The rise of modern nationalism in India was closely linked to the anti-colonial movement. As people engaged in struggle against British rule, they began to discover common grievances and a shared sense of being exploited. This collective experience drew together diverse social groups-students, peasants, workers, tribal communities and professionals-who previously had different priorities. Although their ideas of freedom varied, their shared opposition to colonial policies created a common political identity and gave birth to modern nationalism.

Q2: Why did Gandhiji say 'Satyagraha is pure soul-force'? Explain by giving two arguments.  (2 Marks)

Solution:

Ans: Gandhiji called "Satyagraha is pure soul-force" because it relied on moral strength rather than physical violence. First, a satyagrahi refuses to use physical force or harm the opponent and instead appeals to the conscience of the oppressor. Second, the method is rooted in truth and love; Gandhiji believed that non-violence and adherence to truth were the highest duties and could unite people across communities in a just struggle.

Q3: "Tribal peasants interpreted the message of Mahatma Gandhi and the idea of 'Swaraj' in yet another way." Explain the statement in the context of Non-Cooperation Movement.  (3 Marks)

Solution:

Ans: Tribal peasants interpreted Gandhiji's message of swaraj in ways shaped by their local issues during the Non-Cooperation Movement:

1. In the Gudem Hills of Andhra Pradesh, tribespeople opposed restrictions on entering forests, grazing cattle and collecting fuelwood and fruits, and resisted begar (forced labour) for road building.
2. Alluri Sitaram Raju emerged as a leader who inspired tribals by claiming special powers; he encouraged wearing khadi and giving up drinking, but he believed that swaraj might require force.
3. The tribals carried out guerrilla warfare, attacking police stations and officials. For them, swaraj meant regaining traditional rights and livelihoods rather than strictly following Gandhian non-violence.

Q4: "Workers too had their own understanding of Mahatma Gandhi and the notion of Swaraj." Support the statement in context of plantation workers of Assam.  (3 Marks)

Solution:

Ans: Plantation workers in Assam interpreted Gandhiji's ideas of swaraj in terms of their immediate freedom and livelihood:

1. For them, freedom meant the right to move freely in and out of the plantations and to maintain ties with their home villages.
2. Under the Inland Emigration Act of 1859, workers had to obtain permission to leave plantations, which was rarely given and effectively trapped them.
3. When they heard of the Non-Cooperation Movement, thousands left plantations believing Gandhi Raj was coming and that they would receive land in their villages. Many were stopped by strikes or arrested and beaten, showing their hope and the harsh realities they faced.

Q5: Two places 'A' and 'B' have been marked on the given political outline map of India. Identify them with the help of the following information and write their correct names on the lines drawn near them:  (2 Marks)

A. The place where the session of Indian National Congress was held in 1920.

Solution:

Ans: A is Nagpur

The Indian National Congress session was held in Nagpur in December 1920, where the Non-Cooperation Movement was formally adopted and Gandhi's resolution for Swaraj was passed.

B. The place where Gandhiji started Dandi March.

Solution:

Ans: B is Sabarmati (Ahmedabad)
Gandhi began the Dandi Salt March on 12 March 1930 from his Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, to protest the British salt monopoly by marching to Dandi to make salt.

Q6: How did reinterpretation of history become a means of creating a sense of nationalism by the end of the 19th century in India? Explain.  (2 Marks)

Solution:

Ans: By the end of the nineteenth century, Indian nationalists reinterpreted history to build pride and a shared identity. They emphasised India's glorious achievements in ancient times in art, science, religion and trade, and contrasted this past success with decline under colonial rule. This reinterpretation helped Indians see themselves as heirs to a great civilisation and inspired resistance to British domination.

Q7: How did symbols and icons contribute to creating a feeling of nationalism among the people in the national movement of India? Explain.  (2 Marks)

Solution:

Ans: Symbols and icons helped people to identify with the nation and feel united. The image of Bharat Mata, first evoked by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and later painted by Abanindranath Tagore, became a symbol of devotion to the motherland. Similarly, the tricolour flag with the spinning wheel designed by Gandhiji represented self-reliance and defiance. Displaying these symbols in processions and prints inspired a collective sense of belonging and strengthened nationalist feeling.

Q8: Why did Mahatma Gandhi decide to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement? Analyse any three reasons.  (3 Marks)

Solution:

Ans: Mahatma Gandhi withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement for several reasons:

1. The movement had begun to turn violent in many places, which contradicted its principle of non-violence.
2. At Chauri Chaura in Gorakhpur (1922), a peaceful demonstration turned violent and a police station was set on fire, causing many deaths.
3. Gandhiji believed that satyagrahis needed training in non-violence and discipline before mass movements could be resumed safely.

Q9: Analyse the role of women in the 'Civil Disobedience Movement'.  (3 Marks)

Solution:

Ans: Women played a noteworthy role in the Civil Disobedience Movement:

1. During Gandhiji's Salt March and its spread, thousands of women left their homes, joined marches, manufactured salt and picketed foreign cloth and liquor shops.
2. Women from both urban high-caste backgrounds and rural peasant households courted arrest and some went to jail, showing wide social participation.
3. Many regarded service to the nation as a sacred duty. However, the Congress often limited women's roles to symbolic activities and did not give them many positions of real authority.

Q10: Analyse the role of peasant communities in the 'Civil Disobedience Movement'.  (3 Marks)

Solution:

Ans: Peasant communities contributed significantly to the Civil Disobedience Movement:

1. Rich peasants such as the Patidars of Gujarat and the Jats of Uttar Pradesh supported the movement enthusiastically because the Depression had hit them hard and they struggled to pay high revenue.
2. They organised their communities and joined boycott programmes but were disappointed when revenue rates were not revised, so many withdrew when the movement restarted in 1932.
3. Poorer peasants and small tenants demanded remission of unpaid rent to landlords; many joined radical campaigns, but the Congress avoided fully supporting the 'no rent' campaigns, creating an uneasy relationship.

Q11: "The ideas of nationalism developed through a movement to revive Indian folklore." Explain the statement in the context of the national movement.  (3 Marks)

Solution:

Ans: The revival of folklore strengthened nationalist ideas:

1. Nationalists believed that folk tales, songs and legends reflected the true culture of the people, which foreign rule had damaged.
2. Leaders like Rabindranath Tagore collected ballads and nursery rhymes in Bengal, while Natesa Sastri published The Folklore of Southern India, preserving Tamil tales.
3. This revival restored pride in India's past, created a sense of shared culture and inspired unity in the struggle for freedom.

Q12: Arrange the following historical events in chronological order and choose the correct option:  (1 Marks)
I. Bardoli Satyagraha, 
II. Rowlatt Satyagraha, 
III. Champaran Satyagraha, 
IV. Kheda Satyagraha.
(a) I, II, III, IV, 
(b) III, II, I, IV, 
(c) II, I, IV, III, 
(d) III, IV, II, I

Solution:

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

The chronological order is: III. Champaran Satyagraha (1917) → IV. Kheda Satyagraha (1917) → II. Rowlatt Satyagraha (1919) → I. Bardoli Satyagraha (1928). Champaran and Kheda, both led by Gandhiji, occurred in 1917; the Rowlatt Satyagraha followed in 1919 and Bardoli came later in 1928.

Q13: Mention any two economic impacts of the First World War on India.  (2 Marks)

Solution:

Ans: The First World War changed India's economy in several ways:

1. There was a huge increase in defence expenditure, financed by war loans and higher taxes, including customs duties and income tax.
2. Prices doubled between 1913 and 1918, causing severe hardship for ordinary people.

Q14: Analyse the impacts of Gandhi-Irwin Pact on the Indian freedom struggle.  (3 Marks)

Solution:

Ans: The Gandhi-Irwin Pact of 1931 had notable impacts:

1. Gandhiji agreed to attend the Round Table Conference in London, ending Congress's boycott of constitutional discussions.
2. The government, in return, released many political prisoners and relaxed restrictions, giving temporary relief to national activists.
3. However, negotiations in London later broke down and repression resumed at home; the pact thus gave Congress greater recognition but also showed the limits of British concessions.

Q15: Analyse the role of Alluri Sitaram Raju in the Indian National Movement.  (3 Marks)

Solution:

Ans: Alluri Sitaram Raju mobilised tribal resistance during the Non-Cooperation Movement:

1. He led the Gudem Hills tribal revolt in Andhra Pradesh against forest restrictions and forced begar for road building.
2. Raju inspired tribals by claiming special powers like healing and bravery, and he was seen by followers as an incarnation of God.
3. Although he praised Gandhiji's ideals of khadi and temperance, Raju believed in armed struggle and led guerrilla warfare against the British; he was captured and executed in 1924, becoming a folk hero.

(The Following Question is for Visually Impaired Candidates)
Q16: Who amongst the following organised the 'Depressed Class Association' in 1930?  (1 Mark)
(a) B.L. Yadav, 
(b) C.R. Das, 
(c) M.R. Jayeker, 
(d) B.R. Ambedkar

Solution:

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

B.R. Ambedkar organised the Depressed Classes Association in 1930 to mobilise Dalits politically and to demand protection and rights for the depressed classes.

Q17: Explain with examples the significance of the Non-Cooperation Movement in the Indian national movement.  (5 Marks)

Solution:

Ans: The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22) was significant because it was the first mass struggle under Gandhiji that brought diverse groups into politics.

• Mass participation in towns: Students left government schools, teachers resigned, lawyers gave up practice and foreign cloth was boycotted. The import of foreign cloth fell sharply while Indian production increased.
• Peasant struggles: In Awadh, peasants led by Baba Ramchandra demanded lower rent and the abolition of begar. The Oudh Kisan Sabha, formed under Jawaharlal Nehru and Baba Ramchandra, channelled peasant grievances into organised action.
• Tribal revolts: In the Gudem Hills, Alluri Sitaram Raju mobilised tribals against forest restrictions and forced labour, showing how local grievances linked to the national movement.
• Plantation workers: In Assam, workers defied the Inland Emigration Act, left plantations and believed Gandhi Raj would give them land; many were arrested and beaten.

Overall, the movement spread nationalism to the countryside and made the struggle against British rule more inclusive by involving peasants, tribals, workers and the urban middle classes.

Q18: How did the Civil Disobedience Movement become a mass movement? Explain with examples.  (5 Marks)

Solution:

Ans: The Civil Disobedience Movement (1930) became a mass movement because it attracted participation from varied social groups across India, each linking their local grievances to the demand for swaraj.

1. Salt March and breaking of colonial laws: Gandhi's Dandi March turned salt into a symbol of resistance. People nationwide broke the salt law, boycotted foreign cloth, picketed liquor shops and refused to pay certain taxes.
2. Rich peasants: Communities such as the Patidars of Gujarat and the Jats of Uttar Pradesh, hit by the Depression and high revenue demands, organised and supported the movement.
3. Poor peasants: Small tenants demanded remission of unpaid rent; many joined radical campaigns when the Congress did not fully support their demands.
4. Business classes: Industrialists like G.D. Birla and Purshottamdas Thakurdas provided financial support and backed the boycott of foreign goods.
5. Women's participation: Thousands of women joined marches, manufactured salt, picketed shops and faced imprisonment, making their participation highly visible.

Thus, peasants, workers, women and business groups joined the movement, making it a truly nationwide struggle.

Q19: Explain the role of Gandhiji in the Non-Cooperation Movement with examples.  (5 Marks)

Solution:

Ans: Mahatma Gandhi shaped and led the Non-Cooperation Movement, giving it moral direction and mass appeal.

1. Introduction of Satyagraha: Returning from South Africa, Gandhiji promoted satyagraha-truth and non-violence-as tools against injustice. His earlier successes at Champaran (1917), Kheda (1917) and Ahmedabad (1918) earned him wide credibility.
2. Rowlatt Satyagraha: In 1919 Gandhiji organised satyagraha against the Rowlatt Act, which, after events such as Jallianwala Bagh, highlighted the need for a larger movement.
3. Alliance with Khilafat Movement: Gandhiji allied with the Khilafat leaders to unite Hindus and Muslims and broaden the Non-Cooperation Movement.
4. Programme of Non-Cooperation: He urged surrender of titles, boycott of foreign goods, schools and law courts, and promoted swadeshi, khadi and village industries.
5. Discipline in leadership: When violence occurred at Chauri Chaura (1922), Gandhiji withdrew the movement to maintain commitment to non-violence.

Gandhiji's emphasis on moral authority, mass mobilisation and strict non-violence made him the central figure of the Non-Cooperation Movement.

Q20: How did the Civil Disobedience Movement able to bring all communities together in India? Explain with examples.  (5 Marks)

Solution:

Ans: The Civil Disobedience Movement drew different communities into a common struggle for swaraj by addressing issues that affected many social groups.

1. Salt March as a unifying symbol: Salt was an everyday necessity used by rich and poor alike; targeting the salt tax made the movement relatable to all.
2. Peasants: Rich peasants like the Patidars and Jats protested high revenue, while poorer peasants sought remission of rent.
3. Business classes: Industrialists such as G.D. Birla and Purshottamdas Thakurdas supported boycotts and hoped swaraj would free trade from colonial restrictions.
4. Women: Thousands of women from various backgrounds joined marches, manufactured salt, picketed shops and faced imprisonment.
5. Workers and tribals: Some industrial workers struck and tribals broke forest laws to regain traditional rights, linking local struggles to the national movement.

By addressing grievances of peasants, workers, business groups, women and tribals, the movement united different communities in the fight against colonial rule.

Q21: How did Gandhiji's Salt March mobilize people across different strata against British rule? Explain with examples.  (5 Marks)

Solution:

Ans: Gandhiji's Salt March of 1930 mobilised people from many social strata by using salt as a simple, powerful symbol of British oppression.

1. Symbol of salt: Choosing salt-an essential item for all-made the protest relevant to both rich and poor.
2. Mass participation: After Gandhiji made salt at Dandi, thousands across India broke the salt law, manufactured salt, and demonstrated at salt depots.
3. Peasants: Many refused to pay revenue and chaukidari taxes and village officials resigned, linking economic grievances to swaraj.
4. Workers and tribals: Forest people violated forest laws and some urban workers attacked symbols of British authority after Gandhiji's arrest.
5. Women: Thousands of women came out, made salt, picketed shops and accepted imprisonment as service to the nation.

Thus, the Salt March united peasants, tribals, workers, women and business groups into a nationwide movement against British rule.

Q22: "History, fiction, folklore, songs, popular prints and symbols developed the sense of collective belonging in Indians during the 19th century." Explain the statement with examples.  (5 Marks)

Solution:

Ans: In the 19th century many cultural forms helped create a sense of national belonging:

1. Bharat Mata: Bankim Chandra wrote Vande Mataram and Abanindranath Tagore painted Bharat Mata as a mother figure. Popular prints circulated this image and devotion to her became a sign of nationalism.
2. Folk traditions: Nationalists collected folk tales and songs. Rabindranath Tagore preserved ballads in Bengal and Natesa Sastri published The Folklore of Southern India.
3. Nationalist flag: During the Swadeshi movement a tricolour was designed; later Gandhiji's flag with a spinning wheel emphasised self-reliance.
4. History writing: Reinterpretation of history highlighted ancient India's achievements to counter colonial claims of backwardness.
5. Popular prints and songs: Pictures of leaders with Bharat Mata and patriotic songs helped spread nationalist feeling among ordinary people.

Together, these cultural processes helped Indians develop a common feeling of belonging to one nation.

Q23: How did 'salt' become a powerful weapon to unite the country in the 'Civil Disobedience Movement'? Explain any two causes.  (2 Marks)

Solution:

Ans: Salt became a powerful weapon because:

• Common need: Salt was used by everyone, rich and poor, so the salt tax touched all sections of society and highlighted colonial unfairness.
• Symbol of oppression: The government's monopoly on salt production and taxation was a clear sign of colonial exploitation, making salt an easy, unifying symbol for protest.

Q24: Analyse three main impacts of Non-Cooperation Movement on the economic front.  (3 Marks)

Solution:

Ans: The Non-Cooperation Movement affected the economy in important ways:

1. Boycott of foreign goods: People stopped using imported cloth, picketed liquor shops and burned foreign goods publicly.
2. Fall in imports: The import of foreign cloth fell sharply, from Rs. 102 crore to Rs. 57 crore between 1921 and 1922.
3. Rise in Indian production: Demand for khadi, handloom and Indian mill cloth increased, boosting local industries.

Q25: Why did the Non-Cooperation Movement start slowing down in the cities? Analyse three causes.  (3 Marks)

Solution:

Ans: The movement slowed in cities because:

1. High price of khadi: Khadi was more expensive than mill-made cloth, making it hard for many poor people to sustain the boycott.
2. Lack of alternatives: Indian-run schools, courts and institutions to replace British ones were not yet ready, making the boycott difficult for students, teachers and lawyers.
3. Return to government institutions: Consequently, many students returned to government schools and lawyers resumed practice in British courts.

Q26: Arrange the following historical events in chronological order and choose the correct option:   (1 Mark)
I. Second Round Table Conference, 
II. Simon Commission arrives in India, 
III. Beginning of Dandi March, 
IV. Incident of Chauri-Chaura.
(a) I, II, III, IV, 
(b) IV, II, III, I, 
(c) IV, II, I, III, 
(d) I, II, IV, III

Solution:

Ans: (b) IV, II, III, I,

Explanation:

The correct chronological sequence is IV. Chauri-Chaura (1922) → II. Simon Commission (1928) → III. Dandi March (1930) → I. Second Round Table Conference (1931). Chauri-Chaura led to the withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement; the Simon Commission arrived later, followed by the Dandi March and then the Second Round Table Conference.

Q27: How did Indians react to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre? Explain.  (2 Marks)

Solution:

Ans: The Jallianwala Bagh massacre provoked shock and anger across India. People went on strike, took to the streets in many towns, clashed with police and attacked government properties. The British responded with harsh repression-satyagrahis were humiliated and flogged; in some nearby areas villages were bombed-turning public resentment into widespread protest against colonial rule.

Q28: Read the following source and answer the questions that follow:  (4 Marks)
The Independence Day Pledge, 26 January 1930
"We believe that it is the inalienable right of the Indian people, as of any other people, to have freedom and to enjoy the fruits of their toil and have the necessities of life, so that they may have full opportunities of growth. We also believe that if any government deprives people of these rights and oppresses them, the people have a further right to alter it or abolish it. The British Government in India has not only deprived the Indian people of their freedom but based itself on the exploitation of the masses, and has ruined India economically, politically, culturally and spiritually. We believe, therefore, that India must sever the British connection and attain Purna Swaraj or Complete Independence."

(i) Why was Swaraj considered as an inalienable right of the India?  (1 Mark)

Solution:

Ans: Swaraj was considered an inalienable right because Indians, like other peoples, had a natural claim to freedom, to enjoy the fruits of their labour and to have opportunities for growth and well-being.

(ii) Which type of government is supported in the source?  (1 Mark)

Solution:

Ans: The source supports a democratic government, where people have the right to alter or abolish an oppressive government and to enjoy political freedom.

(iii) Explain any two effects of British rule in India.  (2 Mark)

Solution:

Ans: Two effects of British rule were:

• Economic exploitation: colonial policies harmed Indian industries and agriculture and drained resources.
• Political, cultural and spiritual decline: foreign domination undermined local institutions and cultural confidence, according to the source.

Q29: Why was the Rowlatt Act opposed in India? Explain.  (2 Marks)

Solution:

Ans: The Rowlatt Act (1919) was opposed because it granted the government wide powers to suppress political activity, including detention of suspects without trial for up to two years. Indians considered it unjust and repressive, and Gandhiji called for non-violent satyagraha against it.

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Previous Year Questions 2024

Q1: Arrange the following events of Indian National Movement in chronological order and choose the correct option.
(I) Formation of Swaraj Party
(II) Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress
(III) Gandhi-Irwin Pact
(IV) Formation of Depressed Class Association     (CBSE 2024)

(a) (II), (III), (I) and (IV )
(b) (I), (II), (IV ) and (III)
(c) (I), (III), (II) and (IV )
(d) (IV ), (III), (II) and (I)

Solution:

Ans: (b) (I), (II), (IV ) and (III)

Explanation:

(I) Formation of Swaraj Party: 1 January 1923; (II) Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress: 31 December 1929; (IV) Formation of Depressed Class Association: August 1930; (III) Gandhi-Irwin Pact: 5 March 1931. The correct chronological order is therefore (I), (II), (IV) and (III), which is option (b).

Q2: "There were variety of cultural processes through which Indian Nationalism captured people's imagination." Explain the statement with examples.     (CBSE 2024)

Solution:

Ans: Several cultural developments helped Indian nationalism capture people's imagination in the late 19th and early 20th centuries:

(1) Cultural Renaissance Movements: Movements to revive indigenous art, language and customs challenged colonial cultural dominance and fostered pride.

(2) Poetry and Writing: Poets and writers such as Subramania Bharati, Rabindranath Tagore and Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay used literature to inspire patriotism-e.g., the song Vande Mataram.

(3) Historical Narratives: Historians and intellectuals reinterpreted India's past to highlight civilisational achievements and counter British claims of backwardness.

(4) Popular Culture and Mass Mobilisation: Nationalist leaders used public meetings, songs and festivals to reach large audiences and mobilise support.

(5) Religious and Social Reform Movements: Reform groups such as the Arya Samaj and Brahmo Samaj stressed social equality and dignity, reinforcing national unity.

Previous Year Questions 2023

Q3: Explain the implications of the 'First World War' on the economic and political situation of India.    (2023, Al 2019)

Solution:

Ans: The First World War affected India's economy and politics:

• Increased defence budget: Defence spending rose sharply and was financed through war loans.
• Rising prices: Shortages pushed prices up and consumer goods became much more expensive.
• Higher taxes: Customs duties and other taxes were raised to pay for the war.
• Forced recruitment: Many Indians were recruited into the army, creating resentment.
• Food shortages and epidemics: Crop failures and an influenza epidemic caused widespread death and hardship.

These developments generated anger and frustration, which contributed to later mass movements for independence.

Q4:  "Mahatma Gandhi found in salt a powerful symbol that could unite the nation." Examine the statement in the context of the Civil Disobedience Movement.      (2023)

Solution:

Ans:

• Gandhiji identified salt as a unifying issue and on 31 January 1930 he wrote to Viceroy Irwin with eleven demands; abolition of the salt tax was the most stirring demand.
• Salt was consumed by all classes, so the salt tax revealed the oppressive nature of British rule.
• During the Dandi March, volunteers walked about 240 miles; thousands came to hear Gandhi and to be urged to defy the British law peacefully.
• On 6 April 1930 he reached Dandi and ceremonially broke the law by making salt from seawater-this started the Civil Disobedience Movement.
• Thousands broke the salt law, manufactured salt, protested at salt works, and the movement expanded into boycotts of foreign cloth and picketing liquor shops.

Q5:  Examine the progress of the Civil Disobedience Movement among different strata of society.    (2023)

Solution:

Ans: The Civil Disobedience Movement drew support from various social groups:

• Rich peasants: They demanded revenue relief; many supported the movement because falling crop prices had hurt them.
• Poor peasants: They wanted rent relief, but Congress was cautious about fully backing their demands for fear of alienating richer peasants.
• Business community: Business leaders sought protection from imports and supported boycotts; organisations like FICCI were formed to represent industrial interests.
• Workers: Industrial workers took part in some strikes but overall participation was limited because the Congress was seen as close to industrialists.
• Women: Women participated widely-they joined marches, manufactured salt and picketed shops, and many faced imprisonment.

Q6: Analyse the role of folklore and symbols in the revival of nationalism in India during the late 19th century.     (2023)

Solution:

Ans: Folklore and symbols played an important role in reviving nationalism:

• Folk tales, songs and legends emphasised indigenous culture and heroic pasts, helping people take pride in their roots.
• Nationalist leaders collected and published folk material-e.g., Tagore's ballads and Natesa Sastri's work-preserving regional traditions and linking them to national identity.
• Visual symbols and songs, such as images of Bharat Mata and Vande Mataram, circulated widely and became easy ways for ordinary people to identify with the nation.
• Popular prints of freedom fighters and flags made the abstract idea of nationhood visible and emotionally accessible.

Q7: Analyse the ways through which people of different communities developed a sense of collective belonging in India.  (CBSE 2023)

Solution:

Ans: People developed collective belonging through:

(1) United struggles against colonial rule, which created shared political goals.

(2) Cultural symbols like Bharat Mata and slogans such as Vande Mataram, which provided common emotional touchstones.

(3) Revival of folklore and reinterpretation of history, which restored pride in India's past.

(4) Public meetings, songs and prints that spread nationalist ideas across regions and communities.

Also read: Mind Map: Nationalism in India

Previous Year Questions 2022

Q8: Mention any two causes that led to the Civil Disobedience Movement.   (Term-ll, 2021-22 C)

Solution:

Ans: Two important causes were:

• Simon Commission: Its formation without any Indian members was widely seen as an insult to Indian aspirations for self-government.
• Lala Lajpat Rai's death: His brutal beating during protests against the Simon Commission provoked national outrage and strengthened calls for mass civil disobedience.

Q9: "Mahatma Gandhi launched a more broad-based movement in India by joining Khilafat Andolan." Explain the statement with any three arguments in the context of the Non-Cooperation Movement.    (Term-ll, 2021-22)

Solution:

Ans: Gandhiji's support to the Khilafat Andolan helped broaden the Non-Cooperation Movement:

• Hindu-Muslim unity: By allying with a Muslim cause, Gandhi sought to forge Hindu-Muslim solidarity against British rule.
• Rural mobilisation: The Khilafat movement had strong support in villages; Gandhi's support helped draw rural people into the national movement.
• Youth participation: The Khilafat issue engaged many young Indians and students, bringing fresh energy to the Non-Cooperation Movement.

Q10: "The effects of the Non-Cooperation Movement on the economic front were more dramatic''. Support the statement with examples.  (Term-ll, 2021-22)

Solution:

Ans: Examples showing dramatic economic effects:

• Boycott of foreign goods: Widespread refusal to buy imported cloth led to a sharp fall in imports.
• Fall in cloth imports: Import value of foreign cloth fell from Rs. 102 crore to Rs. 57 crore between 1921 and 1922.
• Promotion of Indian textiles: As people shifted to Indian cloth, production in mills and handlooms rose, helping local industry.

Q11: Read the following source carefully and answer the questions that follow.   (Term-ll, 2021-22)

Modern nationalism in Europe came to be associated with the formation of nation-states. It also meant a change in people's understanding of who they were and what defined their identity and sense of belonging. New symbols and icons, new songs and ideas forged new links and redefined the boundaries of communities. In most countries, the making of this new national identity was a long process. How did this consciousness emerge in India?

In India and as in many other colonies, the growth of modern nationalism is intimately connected to the anti-colonial movement. People began discovering their unity in the process of their struggles with colonialism. The sense of being oppressed under colonialism provided a shared bond that tied many different groups together. But each class and group felt the effects of colonialism differently, their experiences were varied, and their notions of freedom were not always the same. The Congress under Mahatma Gandhi tried to forge these groups together within one movement. But the unity did not emerge without conflict.

(i) What was people's understanding of the nation?

Solution:

Ans: People's understanding of the nation was of a modern political community or state with centralised powers exercising sovereign control over its own territory, where people shared a common political identity.

(ii) How was the growth of modern nationalism intimately connected to the anti-colonial movement?

Solution:

Ans: The growth of modern nationalism in India was linked to the anti-colonial struggle: the shared experience of oppression under colonialism provided a bond that brought different groups together and helped forge a sense of national unity, even though their aims and experiences differed.

(iii) How did people in India develop a sense of collective belonging? Explain.

Solution:

Ans: People developed a sense of collective belonging through united struggles against colonial rule and through cultural processes-history, folklore, songs, popular prints and symbols-that created shared images and narratives tying diverse communities to a common national identity.

Q12: Describe the spread of the Non-Cooperation Movement in the countryside.   (Term-ll, 2021-22 C, 2015)

Solution:

Ans: The Non-Cooperation Movement spread in the countryside in several ways:

• In Awadh, peasants, guided by Baba Ramchandra, resisted oppressive talukdars and landlords, demanding lower rent and the abolition of begar.
• Peasants were often insecure as tenants, facing forced labour and eviction.
• The movement asked for revenue reduction, the abolition of begar and social boycott of oppressive landlords.
• Jawaharlal Nehru toured villages in Awadh to support these demands and understand local grievances.
• The Oudh Kisan Sabha was formed and spread to many branches, organising peasant action.
• However, as some struggles became violent, Congress leadership feared loss of control and distanced itself from certain activities.

Q13: Mention any two causes that led to the Civil Disobedience Movement.     (2022)

Solution:

Ans: Two main causes were:

• The Simon Commission, formed with no Indian members, insulted Indian aspirations for self-government.
• The Lahore Session of 1929 demanded Purna Swaraj; the Civil Disobedience Movement was launched to press this demand into action.

Q14: Why did Mahatma Gandhi decide to call off the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1931?   (Term-ll, 2021-22)

Solution:

Ans: Gandhiji called off the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1931 because he reached the Gandhi-Irwin Pact with Viceroy Irwin. The pact secured the release of political prisoners, allowed Congress participation in the Second Round Table Conference and lifted certain restrictions including on the salt satyagraha. Gandhi decided to suspend mass action to allow negotiations a chance.

Q15: Read the given source below carefully and answer the questions that follow:    (Term-II,  2021-22)

The Independence Day Pledge, 26 January, 1930

'We believe that it is the inalienable right of the Indian people, as of any other people, to have freedom and to enjoy the fruits of their toil and have the necessities of life, so that they may have full opportunities of growth. We believe also that if any government deprives people of these rights and oppresses them, the people have a further right to alter it or to abolish it. The British Government in India has not only deprived the Indian people of their freedom but has based itself on the exploitation of the masses, and has ruined India economically, politically, culturally and spiritually. We believe, therefore, that India must sever the British connection and attain Purna Swaraj or Complete Independence.'

(i) Why was freedom considered an inalienable right of the Indian people?

Solution:

Ans: Freedom was considered inalienable because Indians believed they had the same natural rights as other peoples: to enjoy the fruits of their labour, have the necessities of life and opportunities for growth. If a government denied these rights, people had the right to change it.

(ii) Why was Purna Swaraj considered essential by the people of India?

Solution:

Ans: Purna Swaraj was considered essential because the British were seen to have deprived Indians of freedom and built rule on exploitation. Complete independence was viewed as necessary to restore economic, political, cultural and spiritual well-being.

(iii) Explain the significance of the Lahore Session of Congress (1930).

Solution:

Ans: The Lahore Session (1930) was significant because the Congress declared 26 January 1930 as Purna Swaraj Day and formally adopted complete independence as its goal, marking a clear shift from seeking limited self-government to demanding full sovereignty.

Q16:  "It was essential to preserve folk tradition in order to discover one's national identity and restore a sense of pride in one's past." Support the statement in reference to India.       (Term-ll, 2021-22)

Solution:

Ans:

(i) Nationalist historians urged pride in India's past accomplishments to counter colonial narratives of decline.

(ii)In the nineteenth century nationalists collected folk songs and legends, visiting villages to record them.

(iii) They argued that folk tales portrayed an authentic traditional culture damaged by foreign rule.

(iv)Indians looked to their past achievements in art, science, law and trade to build confidence and a shared identity.

Q17: Read the case given below carefully and answer the questions that follow:   (Term-ll, 2021-22)

The Sense of Collective Belonging

This sense of collective belonging came partly through the experience of united struggles. But there were also a variety of cultural processes through which nationalism captured people's imagination. History and fiction, folklore and songs, and popular prints and symbols, all played a part in the making of nationalism. The identity of the nation, as you know, is most often symbolised in a figure or image. This helps create an image with which people can identify the nation. It was in the twentieth century, with the growth of nationalism, that the identity of India came to be visually associated with the image of Bharat Mata. The image was first created by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. In the 1870s he wrote 'Vande Mataram' as a hymn to the motherland. Later it was included in his novel Anandamath and widely sung during the Swadeshi movement in Bengal. Moved by the Swadeshi movement, Rabindranath Tagore painted his famous image of Bharat Mata. In this painting. Bharat Mata is portrayed as an ascetic figure; she is calm, composed, diving and spiritual. In subsequent years, the image of Bharat Mata acquired many different forms, as it circulated in popular prints, and was painted by different artists. Devotion to this mother figure came to be seen as evidence of one's nationalism.

(i) How did the 'nation' become a reality in the minds of people?

Solution:

Ans: The 'nation' became real in people's minds through united struggles against colonial rule and through cultural processes-symbols, songs, prints and literature-that provided shared images and narratives for people to identify with.

(ii) How did nationalism capture the people's imagination?

Solution:

Ans: Nationalism captured imagination by using history, folklore, songs and visual images like Bharat Mata, and by promoting symbols and slogans that evoked pride, identity and emotional attachment to the idea of a nation.

(iii) How did people belonging to different groups develop a sense of collective belonging?

Solution:

Ans: People from different communities developed collective belonging through shared political struggles, cultural revival (folk tales and songs), common symbols and public displays which linked local identities to a broader national identity.

Q12: Describe the spread of the Non-Cooperation Movement in the countryside.   (Term-ll, 2021-22 C, 2015)

Solution:

Ans: The Non-Cooperation Movement spread into the countryside by linking local grievances to the national struggle. In Awadh peasants led by Baba Ramchandra demanded reduction in rent and abolition of begar; the Oudh Kisan Sabha organised many villages. Tribals in areas such as Gudem Hills attacked symbols of colonial control. Plantation workers in Assam defied the law to return home. These regional movements showed how national protest appealed to people's local concerns and turned the freedom struggle into a mass rural movement.

Q13: Mention any two causes that led to the Civil Disobedience Movement.     (2022)

Solution:

Ans: Two causes were the arrival of the Simon Commission with no Indian members and the declaration of Purna Swaraj at the Lahore session, which set the demand for complete independence in motion.

Q14: Why did Mahatma Gandhi decide to call off the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1931?   (Term-ll, 2021-22)

Solution:

Ans: Gandhi called off the movement after the Gandhi-Irwin Pact secured the release of political prisoners, permitted Congress participation in negotiations and relaxed certain repressive measures; he suspended mass action to give talks a chance.

Q15: Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:    (2020)

Source - Swaraj in the Plantations 

Workers too had their own understanding of Mahatma Gandhi and the notion of Swaraj. For plantation workers in Assam, freedom meant the right to move freely in and out of the confined space in which they were enclosed, and it meant retaining a link with the village from which they had come. Under the Inland Emigration Act of 1859, plantation workers were not permitted to leave the tea gardens without permission, and in fact, they were rarely given such permission. When they heard of the Non-Cooperation Movement, thousands of workers defied the authorities, left the plantations, and headed home. They believed that Gandhi Raj was coming, and everyone would be given land in their own villages. They, however, never reached their destination. Stranded on the way by a railway and steamer strike, they were caught by the police and brutally beaten up.

(i) Explain the understanding of Swaraj for plantation workers in Assam.

Solution:

Ans: For plantation workers Swaraj meant freedom of movement: the right to leave the enclosed tea gardens and return to their villages, and to regain links with their homes and livelihoods that the Inland Emigration Act restricted.

(ii) Explain the Inland Emigration Act of 1859 as a barrier to the freedom of plantation workers.

Solution:

Ans: The Inland Emigration Act of 1859 required plantation workers to obtain a pass to leave the tea gardens. This severely curtailed their freedom, prevented visits to families and restricted job mobility, effectively trapping them in exploitative conditions.

(iii) Explain the main outcome of the participation of workers in the Non-Cooperation Movement. 

Solution:

Ans: Thousands of plantation workers defied authorities and left the gardens hoping for Gandhi Raj and land in their villages. Many were stopped by strikes, arrested and beaten; despite the failure to reach their destination, their actions showed mass defiance against colonial control and attracted public attention to their plight.

Q26: Identify the appropriate reason from the following options, for the non-participation of industrial workers in the Civil Disobedience Movement.    (2020)
(a) Industrialists were close to the Congress
(b) Britishers offered them good salaries
(c) They were reluctant towards the boycott of foreign goods
(d) Growth of Socialism

Solution:

Ans: (a) Industrialists were close to the Congress

Explanation:

The industrialists had a close relationship with the Congress and relied on stability for their businesses. As a result, industrial workers were often reluctant to take part in large-scale strikes or protests that might harm production and their jobs.

Q27: Why did the Simon Commission come to India? Identify the correct reason from the following options.    (2020)
(a) To control the campaign against the British in cities
(b) To look into the functioning of the British
(c) To initiate salt law in India
(d) To suggest changes in the functioning of the constitutional system in India

Solution:

Ans: (d) To suggest changes in the functioning of the constitutional system in India

Explanation:

The Simon Commission was appointed to review and recommend changes to the constitutional arrangements in India; its purpose was to suggest reforms to the constitutional system, though it caused widespread protest because no Indian members were included.

Q28: Read the sources given below and answer the questions that follow:     (2020)

A. The Salt March and The Civil Disobedience Movement Mahatma Gandhi found in salt a powerful symbol that could unite the nation. On 31st January 1930, he sent a letter to Viceroy Irwin stating eleven demands. Some of these were of general interest; while others were specific demands of different classes, from industrialists to peasants.

B. In the countryside, rich peasant communities - like the Patidars of Gujarat and Jats of Uttar Pradesh - were active in the movement. Being producers of commercial crops, they were very hard hit by the trade depression and falling prices.

C. The limits of Civil Disobedience Movement -  When the Civil Disobedience Movement started there was an atmosphere of suspicion and distrust between communities.

(i) How did Gandhiji react to the Salt Law?

Solution:

Ans: Gandhiji opposed the salt tax and monopoly and led the Dandi March in 1930. He and his followers walked to the sea at Dandi and made salt, publicly breaking the salt law to provoke civil disobedience and draw broad support against colonial rule.

(ii) Why did the rich peasants become supporters of the Civil Disobedience Movement?

Solution:

Ans: Rich peasants supported the movement because the trade depression and falling prices of commercial crops had reduced their incomes, making it difficult to meet revenue demands. They saw the movement as a way to resist unfair revenue and economic policies.

(iii) Examine the limits of the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Solution:

Ans: Limits included limited participation of industrial workers since Congress was close to industrialists; failure to fully address poor peasants' demands (like 'no-rent' campaigns); and growing communal suspicion which reduced Muslim participation in some areas.

Q29: Who among the following wrote the Vande Mataram?     (2020)
(a) Rabindranath Tagore
(b) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
(c) Abindranath Tagore
(d) Dwarkanath Tagore

Solution:

Ans: (b) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

Explanation:

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote the song Vande Mataram, which appeared in his novel Anandamath and later became a rallying cry during the Swadeshi movement.

Q30: Read the following passages and answer the questions that follow: 

Case: The Movement in the Towns 

The movement started with the participation of the middle-class in the cities. Thousands of students left government-controlled schools and colleges, headmasters and teachers resigned, and lawyers gave up their legal practices. The council elections were boycotted in most provinces except Madras, where the Justice Party, the party of the non-Brahmins, felt that entering the council was one way of gaining some power something that usually only Brahmins had access to.

The effects of Non-cooperation movement on the economic front were more dramatic. Foreign goods were boycotted, liquor shops picketed, and foreign cloth burnt in huge bonfires. The import of foreign cloth halved between 1921 and 1922, its value dropping from Rs. 102 crore to Rs. 57 crore. In many places merchants and traders refused to import foreign cloth or trade in foreign goods. As the boycott movement spread, and people began discarding imported clothes and wearing only Indian ones, production of Indian textile mills and handlooms went up. 

(i) Explain the role of the Justice Party in boycotting council elections. 

Solution:

Ans: The Justice Party in Madras chose to contest council elections because it saw participation as a way for non-Brahmins to gain political power. Unlike other provinces where elections were widely boycotted, the Justice Party believed entry into councils could help secure representation.

(ii) How were the effects of 'Non-cooperation movement on the economic front' dramatic? 

Solution:

Ans: The economic impact was dramatic because large-scale boycotts caused merchants to refuse to deal in foreign goods, foreign cloth imports fell sharply (from Rs. 102 crore to Rs. 57 crore) and Indian mills and handlooms expanded to meet the new demand.

(iii) Explain the effect of the 'boycott' movement on 'foreign textile trade'. (CBSE 2020)

Solution:

Ans: The boycott halved the value of imported cloth and reduced trade in foreign textiles. Merchants stopped importing or financing foreign cloth and people switched to Indian-made fabric, boosting domestic textile production.

Q31: Why did Mahatma Gandhi organise, Satyagraha in the Kheda district of Gujarat in 1917? Give the main reason. (CBSE 2020)

Solution:

Ans: Gandhiji organised Satyagraha in Kheda to support peasants suffering crop failure and plague who were unable to pay taxes; he sought relief for them from harsh revenue demands.

Q32: Describe the implication of the First World War on the economic and political situation of India. (CBSE 2020)

Solution:

Ans:  The First World War created new economic and political situations in India:

• Defence expenditure rose sharply and was financed by loans and higher taxes.
• Customs duties and income tax increased.
• Prices doubled between 1913 and 1918, causing hardship.
• Villages were called upon to supply soldiers and forced recruitment created anger.
• Crop failures and an influenza epidemic caused widespread death and suffering.

Previous Year Questions 2019

Q33: Explain the implications of the 'First World War' on the economic and political situation of India.    (2023, Al 2019)

Solution:

Ans: The First World War affected India's economy and politics by increasing defence expenditure, raising taxes, causing shortages that doubled prices between 1913 and 1918, and producing forced recruitment and food shortages. These hardships fuelled dissatisfaction and contributed to later national movements.

Q34: Who had organised the Dalits into the depressed classes association in 1930? Describe his achievements.    (CBSE Delhi 2019)

Solution:

Ans: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar organised Dalits into the Depressed Classes Association in 1930. His achievements include advocating for Dalit rights, authoring The Annihilation of Caste, demanding separate electorates for the Depressed Classes at the Round Table Conferences and negotiating the Poona Pact (1932) which secured reserved seats for depressed classes in legislatures.

Q35: "Plantation workers had their own understanding of Mahatma Gandhi's ideas and the notion of 'Swaraj'." Support the statement. (2019 C, Delhi 2017, Al 2016)

Solution:

Ans:

(i) For plantation workers Swaraj meant the right to move freely out of the enclosed tea-garden and to retain links with their village.

(ii) The Inland Emigration Act of 1859 prevented workers leaving the gardens without permission, so freedom of movement was central to their idea of swaraj.

(iii) During the Non-Cooperation Movement thousands left plantations hoping for Gandhi Raj and land in their villages, though many were arrested or beaten before reaching home.

Q36: Define the term 'Civil Disobedience Movement.' Describe the participation of rich and poor peasant communities in the 'Civil Disobedience Movement.'  (Delhi 2019)

Solution:

Ans: Civil Disobedience is the deliberate and public refusal to obey certain laws or demands of an unjust government. In India's movement:

Rich peasants: Hit by falling prices and unable to pay revenue, they demanded reduction in revenue and were active supporters; many were disappointed when revenue demands were not changed.

Poor peasants: Small tenants faced hardship paying rent and wanted rent remitted; Congress did not fully back 'no-rent' campaigns, limiting their participation.

Q37: Explain the limitations of the 'Civil Disobedience Movement'.   (AI 2019)

Solution:

Ans: Limitations included:

• The Congress neglected Dalit demands to appease upper-caste supporters.
• Communal distrust limited Muslim participation in some areas.
• Economic demands of poor peasants and workers were not fully addressed.
• Industrial workers largely stayed away because of Congress's closeness to business interests.

Q38: Identify the appropriate reason for the formation of the Swaraj party from the options given below. 
(a) Wanted members of Congress to return to Council Politics. 
(b) Wanted members of Congress to ask for Poorna Swaraj for Indians. 
(c) Wanted members of Congress to ask Dominion State for India. 
(d) Wanted members of Congress to oppose Simon Commission.   (CBSE 2019)

Solution:

Ans: (a) Wanted members of Congress to return to Council Politics.

Explanation:

The Swaraj Party (1923) led by C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru wanted Congress members to enter legislative councils and use them to obstruct colonial policies from within. Hence the correct reason is (a).

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Previous Year Questions 2018

Q39: Why was Congress reluctant to allow women to hold any position of authority within the organisation? How did women participate in the Civil Disobedience Movement? Explain.    (CBSE 2018)

Solution:

Ans: 

Congress's reluctance:

• Congress saw women primarily in domestic roles and expected their participation to be symbolic rather than in leadership.
• Gandhiji emphasised women's duty as mothers and wives, which limited their official authority in the organisation.

Women's participation:

• Many women left home to hear Gandhiji, joined protest marches and took part in the Salt Satyagraha.
• They manufactured salt, picketed foreign cloth and liquor shops and some were imprisoned for their activities.

Q40: How did the Non-Cooperation Movement spread to the countryside and drew into its fold the struggles of peasants and tribal communities? Elaborate.    (CBSE 2018)

Solution:

Ans:

(a) Peasants of Awadh:

(i) Led by Baba Ramchandra, they demanded revenue reductions and abolition of begar.

(ii) Activities included social boycotts and formation of the Oudh Kisan Sabha.

(iii) As the struggle became violent, Congress grew uneasy.

(b) Tribals in Gudem Hills:

(i) They rose against forest closures, restrictions on livelihoods and forced begar.

(ii) Their leader Alluri Sitaram Raju led guerrilla attacks on police and officials.

(iii) Tribal violence was disapproved by Congress and their objectives were not fully realised.

Q41: How did Non-Cooperation Movement start with the participation of middle-class people in the cities? Explain its impact on the economic front.    (CBSE 2018)

Solution:

Ans:

(a) Urban middle-class participation:

(i) Students left government schools and colleges; teachers resigned; lawyers gave up practice.

(ii) Council elections were boycotted in most provinces.

(iii) Boycotts targeted foreign goods; liquor shops were picketed and foreign cloth burnt.

(b) Economic impact:

(i) Import of foreign cloth fell from Rs. 102 crore to Rs. 57 crore between 1921 and 1922.

(ii) Traders stopped importing foreign goods and people began to wear only Indian cloth, boosting Indian mills and handlooms.

Previous Year Questions 2017

Q42: What is the meaning of 'Begar'?    (CBSE (AT) 2017)

Solution:

Ans: Begar means unpaid forced labour that villagers were compelled to provide without any payment.

Q43: Name the writer of the novel 'Anandamath'    (CBSE Delhi 2017)

Solution:

Ans: Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

Q44: What is meant by Satyagraha?    (CBSE (AI) 2017)

Solution:

Ans: Satyagraha is the method of non-violent resistance which emphasises the power of truth and moral force to bring about change.

Q45: Name the famous book written by Mahatma Gandhi.    (CBSE (AI) 2017)

Solution:

Ans: Hind Swaraj.

Q46: Under which agreement did the Indian 'Depressed Classes' get reserved seats in the Provincial and Central Legislative Councils in 1932?    (CBSE Delhi 2017)

Solution:

Ans: The Poona Pact of September 1932 provided reserved seats for the Depressed Classes (now Scheduled Castes) in provincial and central legislatures; seats were to be filled by votes from the general electorate.

Q47: Who wrote the song 'Vande Mataram?    (CBSE (F) 2017)

Solution:

Ans: Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

Q48: By what means does hand-spun khadi provide large-scale employment to weavers?    (CBSE Sample Question 2017)

Solution:

Ans: Hand-spun khadi supports many weavers by operating as a cottage industry, allowing production at home, creating demand for local skills and providing flexible work opportunities that can employ families on a large scale.

Q49: How did the First World War create a new economic situation in India? Explain with examples.    (CBSE (F) 2017)

Solution:

Ans: The First World War changed India's economy by causing huge increases in defence spending paid for by war loans and higher taxes, raising customs duties and introducing income tax, and causing prices to rise sharply-doubling between 1913 and 1918-leading to great hardship.

Q50: Why was the Non-Cooperation Movement launched by Gandhiji? Explain any three reasons.    (CBSE (Comp.) 2017)

Solution:

Ans: Reasons included:

(i) To support the Khilafat agitation and unite Hindus and Muslims.

(ii) To protest the Rowlatt Act which curtailed civil liberties.

(iii) To respond to repression in Punjab and to demand Swaraj.

Q51: "Gandhiji's idea of Satyagraha emphasized the Power of truth and the need to search for truth." In light of this statement assess the contribution of Gandhiji towards Satyagraha.    (CBSE (Comp.) 2017)

Solution:

Ans:

• The concept of satyagraha stressed truth and non-violence as the means to resist injustice.
• A satyagrahi would use persuasion, not force, to appeal to the conscience of the oppressor.
• Gandhi applied this method successfully in Champaran (1917), Kheda (1917) and Ahmedabad (1918), showing its practical value.

Q52: How was the sense of collective belonging developed during the freedom movement? Explain.    (CBSE (AI) 2017)

Solution:

Ans: Collective belonging developed through united struggles against colonial rule and cultural processes: history, fiction, folklore, songs, popular prints and symbols (such as Bharat Mata and the national flag) which created shared images, narratives and pride across communities.

Q53: Why did Gandhiji decide to launch a nationwide Satyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt Act 1919? Explain any three reasons.    (CBSE (Delhi) 2017, 2016)

Solution:

Ans:

(i) The Rowlatt Act was hurriedly passed despite Indian opposition.

(ii) It gave the government wide powers to repress political activities.

(iii) It allowed detention without trial for up to two years.

Q54: How had the First World War created economic problems in India? Explain.    (CBSE (Comp.) 2017)

Solution:

Ans: The war caused large defence expenditure, higher taxes and duties including income tax, and a sharp rise in prices-doubling between 1913 and 1918-leading to hardship. Forced recruitment and crop failures worsened conditions and an influenza epidemic increased suffering.

Q55: Why did Gandhiji relaunch the Civil Disobedience Movement after the Second Round Table Conference? Explain any three reasons.    (CBSE (F) 2017)

Solution:

Ans:

(i) Negotiations at the Second Round Table Conference failed.

(ii) On returning, Gandhi found renewed repression, arrests and bans on Congress activity.

(iii) Leaders such as Ghaffar Khan and Jawaharlal Nehru were jailed, and public liberties were curtailed, prompting a relaunch of the movement.

Q56: Evaluate the 'Satyagraha Movement' of Gandhiji against the proposed Rowlatt Act, 1919.    (CBSE (F) 2017)

Solution:

Ans:

Gandhiji launched a nationwide satyagraha in 1919 against the Rowlatt Act calling for non-violent civil disobedience: hartals, rallies and strikes disrupted communications and industry. The government responded with arrests and repression, culminating in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which intensified national anger and led to further mobilisation.

Q57: Evaluate the contribution of folklore, songs, popular prints etc., in shaping the nationalism during freedom struggle.    (CBSE Delhi 2017)

Solution:

Ans: Folklore, songs and popular prints helped build national feeling by reviving local traditions, giving ordinary people shared stories and images-such as Bharat Mata and patriotic songs-that created emotional bonds and a sense of common identity across regions and communities.

Q58: How did the salt Satyagraha become an effective tool of resistance against British colonialism in India during 1930? Explain.    (CBSE Sample Question 2017)

Solution:

Ans:

• Salt had universal appeal and its tax symbolised colonial injustice.
• Gandhi's 240-mile march to Dandi and his public breaking of the salt law gave the movement a clear act of mass defiance.
• Thousands across India followed by making or distributing salt and by boycotting foreign goods; arrests and repression by the government further increased popular support.

Q59: Evaluate the role of business classes in the 'Civil Disobedience Movement'.    (CBSE (AI) 2017)

Solution:

Ans:

Business classes supported the movement when it aligned with their interests: they opposed colonial trade restrictions, sought protection for Indian industry and formed organisations (e.g., FICCI). Many provided funds and backed boycotts of imported goods to protect local business.

Q60: What action did the British government take after the famous Dandi March?

OR How did the Colonial Government repress the 'Civil Disobedience Movement'? Explain.    (CBSE (AI) 2017)

Solution:

Ans:

• The government arrested Congress leaders including Gandhi, which provoked unrest in many places.
• Repression included mass arrests (about 100,000 people), beatings, and harsh measures against peaceful satyagrahis.
• Instances of violent clashes occurred when people retaliated; the state used force to crush demonstrations and restored order by arrests and bans.

Q61: Explain the importance of the 'Salt March' of Gandhiji as a symbol to unite the nation.    (CBSE (F) 2017)

Solution:

Ans:

• Salt was a basic necessity and touched all classes, making it a ubiquitous symbol.
• Gandhi's ceremonial production of salt at Dandi was a simple, visible act of defiance that ordinary people could copy.
• The subsequent nationwide breaking of the salt law united peasants, workers, women and urban groups in a common campaign of law-breaking and boycott.

Q62: Why did Gandhiji launch the Civil Disobedience Movement? Explain any three reasons.    (CBSE (Comp) 2017)

Solution:

Ans:

• The economic depression of 1930 had caused widespread distress.
• The Simon Commission arrived with no Indian members, provoking anger.
• The Lahore session (1929) had demanded Purna Swaraj and action to achieve it.
• The salt tax symbolised colonial exploitation and became a focal point for protest.

Q63: What were the effects of the Non-cooperation Movement on the economic front?    (CBSE Delhi 2017)

Solution:

Ans:

• There was a widespread boycott of foreign goods, picketing of liquor shops and burning of imported cloth.
• Imports of foreign cloth sharply decreased between 1921 and 1922, from Rs. 102 crore to Rs. 57 crore.
• People shifted to Indian cloth; textile mills and handloom production increased.

Q64: Why were men from Indian villages forcefully recruited to the British army during the first world war? (CBSE 2017)

Solution:

Ans: Large numbers of Indian men were recruited because Britain needed more soldiers, India had a large population, and Indian soldiers were cheaper to maintain. This forced recruitment created resentment in many villages.

Test: Nationalism in India - 1

Start Test

Previous Year Questions 2016

Q65: Trace the reason because of which Gandhiji started Satyagraha in 1919.    (2016)

Solution:

Ans: Gandhiji launched satyagraha in 1919 because of growing injustices under British rule, notably the proposed Rowlatt Act, and because his experience in South Africa convinced him that non-violent truth-based resistance could unite people and confront unjust laws effectively.

Q66: What did the British do to repress the Rowlatt Satyagrahis?   (2016)

Solution:

Ans: The British reacted harshly: many satyagrahis were arrested, armed forces were used to break protests and repression culminated in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre where firing on an unarmed crowd caused many deaths.

Q67: Who had designed the 'Swaraj Flag' by 1921? Explain the main features of this 'swaraj flag' ?    (CBSE Delhi 2016)

Solution:

Ans: Gandhiji designed the Swaraj Flag by 1921. Its features included three colours (red, green and white) and a spinning wheel (charkha) in the centre to symbolise self-help and defiance of colonial imports.

Q68: "The Civil Disobedience Movement was different from the Non-Cooperation Movement." Support the statement with examples.    (CBSE Delhi 2016)

Solution:

Ans:

Key differences:

Non-Cooperation focused on withdrawal of cooperation from British institutions-boycotts of schools, courts, foreign cloth and resignations-whereas Civil Disobedience (1930) actively urged breaking specific colonial laws such as the salt laws, refusal to pay taxes, resignations from village posts and violation of forest laws.

Q69: What type of flag was designed during the 'Swadeshi Movement' in Bengal? Explain its main features.   (CBSE (AI) 2016)

Solution:

Ans: The Swadeshi flag of Bengal was a tricolour (red, green and yellow) which represented unity and the provinces; it included symbols such as a crescent to show inclusiveness of different communities during earlier nationalist phases.

Q70: Describe the participation of the industrial working class in the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Or "The Congress was reluctant to include the demands of industrial workers in its programme of struggle." Analayse.    (CBSE 2016)

Solution:

Ans:

(i) Industrial workers did not participate in large numbers except in regions like Nagpur because Congress was seen as close to industrialists.

(ii) Some workers joined strikes related to wages and conditions (railway strikes 1930, dock strikes 1932), but the overall engagement was limited.

Q71: "The plantation workers in Assam had their own understanding of Mahatma Gandhi and the notion of Swaraj". Support the statement with arguments.    (CBSE (AI) 2016)

Solution:

Ans:

(i) For plantation workers, swaraj meant freedom to leave the plantations and return to their villages.

(ii) The Inland Emigration Act (1859) prevented leaving without permission, so freedom of movement was central to their demands.

(iii) Thousands left plantations during Non-Cooperation believing Gandhi Raj would give them land, but most were arrested or beaten before reaching home.

Q72: How did people belonging to different communities, regions or language groups develop a sense of collective belonging?    (CBSE Sample Question 2016)

Solution:

Ans: Collective belonging came from united political struggles and from cultural processes: images like Bharat Mata, revival of folklore, nationalist songs and reinterpretation of history helped create shared identity and pride across regions and communities.

Q73: Why did Gandhiji decide to launch a nationwide satyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt Act 1919? How was it organised? Explain.    (CBSE Delhi 2016)

Solution:

Ans: The Rowlatt Act gave the government extraordinary powers to detain political suspects without trial. Gandhi organised non-violent civil disobedience beginning with a hartal on 6 April 1919, rallies and strikes, and plans to disrupt communications and industry. The government responded with arrests and, ultimately, violent repression.

Q74: Why did Mahatma Gandhi find in 'salt' a powerful symbol that could unite the nation? Explain.    (CBSE Delhi 2016)

Solution:

Ans:

• Salt was a necessity for all and the salt tax was a clear example of exploitative colonial policy.
• Gandhi's Dandi March dramatized the injustice by making salt publicly, encouraging millions to break the law.
• The simplicity of the action made it easy for ordinary people to join, turning it into a mass movement.

Q75:  How did a variety of cultural processes play an important role in the making of nationalism in India? Explain with examples.    (CBSE Delhi 2016)

Solution:

Ans:

(i) United struggles gave people a shared political experience.

(ii) Cultural processes-history, fiction, folklore, songs, popular prints and symbols-helped shape national imagination.

(iii) Symbols such as Bharat Mata and the national flag provided visual images for identification with the nation.

Q76: Why did Mahatma Gandhi decide to call off the Civil Disobedience Movement? Explain.    (CBSE (Al) 2016)

Solution:

Ans:

Gandhi called off the movement because the government's repression had escalated: mass arrests, violent clashes (e.g., Peshawar), the arrest of leadership and large-scale suffering among satyagrahis convinced him that continued action would lead to greater bloodshed; the Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931) then followed.

Q77: Why did Mahatma Gandhi relaunch the Civil Disobedience Movement with great apprehension? Explain.    (CBSE (Al) 2016)

Solution:

Ans:

Gandhi relaunched the movement cautiously because negotiations had failed in London, repression at home had resumed, key leaders were jailed, Congress was declared illegal in places and restrictions prevented meetings and demonstrations, so he anticipated a difficult struggle.

Q78: How had the Non-cooperation Movement spread in cities? Explain.    (CBSE (F) 2016)

Solution:

Ans: The movement began with middle-class action: students left government schools, teachers resigned, lawyers gave up practice and council elections were boycotted. Boycotts of foreign goods and picketing of liquor shops reduced imports and boosted Indian textile production.

Q79: How did the 'First World War' create a new economic and political situations in India? Explain with examples.    (CBSE (F) 2016)

Solution:

Ans:

The war led to higher defence spending financed by loans and taxes, higher customs duties, the introduction of income tax and a sharp rise in prices. Villages were compelled to provide soldiers, and crop failures plus an influenza epidemic caused widespread death and hardship.

Q80: "The plantation workers in Assam had their own understanding of Mahatma Gandhi and the nation of Swaraj." Support the statement with arguments.    (CBSE 2016)

Solution:

Ans: 

(i) Plantation workers defined swaraj as freedom of movement and the right to return to their villages.

(ii) The Inland Emigration Act restricted their movement, so their idea of freedom focused on mobility and land rights.

(iii) Thousands left plantations during the Non-Cooperation Movement hoping for land and freedom, but many were arrested and beaten before reaching home.

Q81: Simon Commission was greeted with the slogan "Go Back Simon" at arrival in India. Support this reaction of Indians with arguments.    (CBSE 2016)

Solution:

Ans:

The Simon Commission had no Indian members and was entirely British, which insulted Indian aspirations for self-government. Indians protested with the slogan "Simon Go Back" because excluding Indians from constitutional review was seen as unacceptable.

Q82: Describe the various activities that took place during the first phase of the Civil Disobedience Movement. Why was it withdrawn in March 1931?     (CBSE 2016)

Solution:

Ans:

(a) Activities included violation of the salt laws, boycott of foreign cloth, picketing of liquor shops, refusal by peasants to pay revenue and chaukidari, resignation of village officials and violation of forest laws.

(b) The government responded with arrests and repression, and large-scale violence and detentions followed. Under this pressure and after the Gandhi-Irwin negotiations, Gandhi called off the movement in March 1931.

Q83: Why did the different social groups join the Civil Disobedience Movement?    (CBSE 2016)

Solution:

Ans:

(a) Rich peasants: Hit by depressed prices and high revenue demands, they sought reduction in taxes.

(b) Poor peasants: Sought remission of rent due to economic hardship.

(c) Business classes: Wanted protection against imports and better trade terms; they organised collectively and supported boycotts.

(d) Workers: Participation was limited but included strikes and protests over wages and conditions; women participated widely in marches and picketing.

Q84: State the slogan with which Simon Commission was greeted in 1928 in India. (CBSE 2016)

Solution:

Ans: "Simon Go Back"

Q85: Explain any two provisions of the Rowlatt Act and its impact. (CBSE 2016)

Solution:

Ans:

Provisions: the Act allowed detention without trial for up to two years and gave the government powers to search and arrest without warrant. Impact: it provoked nationwide anger, led to mass protests and contributed to the rise of non-cooperation and satyagraha campaigns.

Previous Year Questions 2015

Q86: "Nationalism spreads when people begin to believe that they are all part of the same nation." Support the statement.    (CBSE 2015)

Or

How did people belonging to different communities, regions or language groups in India develop a sense of collective belonging ? Elucidate.

Solution:

Ans: Nationalism spread when people discovered unity in shared struggles and cultural processes. United political movements brought people together, while symbols (like Bharat Mata), revival of folklore, reinterpretation of history and popular songs and prints created emotional bonds and a shared identity across communities and regions.

Q87: Evaluate the Satyagraha movement of Mahatma Gandhi against the proposed Rowlatt Act, 1919. (CBSE 2015, 14, 10)

Solution:

Ans: The Satyagraha against the Rowlatt Act involved hartals, rallies and strikes to resist detention without trial. It disrupted normal life and provoked harsh repression, notably the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which in turn intensified nationalist feeling and demonstrated the power and limits of non-violent protest.